Electronic poker game

ABSTRACT

An electronically implemented method of playing poker whereby a player selects one or more cards of a poker hand. Upon making a wager, the player selects a suit and value of one or more cards of the player&#39;s poker hand. Thereafter, the hand is completed pursuant to conventional poker rules corresponding to the particular poker game played. Suitable poker games include five card draw, five card stud, seven card stud and variations thereof. Once the player&#39;s hand is completed, the hand is compared to predefined winning hands to determine whether said player is entitled to an award. If the player is entitled, the player is paid an amount pursuant to a pre-established pay table including pay outs which are a function of the one or more cards selected initially. In otherwords, multiple pay tables account for the countless unique combinations of selected cards.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to an electronicallyimplemented video poker game. More particularly, a video poker gameincludes means for a player to initially select the value and suit ofone or more cards of a poker hand. Multiple pay tables based on theselected one or more cards display pay out amounts corresponding topredefined winning final poker hands.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] Poker has always been the most popular wagering card game in theworld and will undoubtedly continue to be so. Casinos have longbenefitted from both live poker games and electronic video pokermachines. “Video poker”, as it is commonly known, first consists of aplayer inserting a wager into a video poker machine. Thereafter, theplayer is dealt five face-up cards from a standard 52 card deck. Theplayer then decides which of the five dealt cards to hold and which todiscard. The discards are replaced by new cards from the remaining cardsin the deck. The player, according to a pre-established pay table, ispaid for the resultant poker hand (e.g. 4000 coins for a royal flush,250 coins for 4 of a kind, etc.).

[0003] Many variations of video poker are disclosed in the patentliterature. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,723,950, 5,816,916 and5,823,873 all to Moody disclose video poker games which allowsimultaneous play of multiple poker hands based on identically heldcards. In other words, the player can hold the best cards in a firsthand and the identical cards will be transposed to multiple handswhereby the player can draw into the selected best cards in multiplehands. The Moody patents provide players with more opportunities to winprizes and thus have been very successful in practice.

[0004] However, traditional video poker can become repetitive,especially realizing that the chances of obtaining a maximum payoutbased on a royal flush are 1 in 50,000 dealt hands. Mostnon-professional players are emotionally and/or financially unwilling toinvest in the number of hands necessary to achieve the maximum pay out.Therefore, players play for a short time, become frustrated and move on.While the Moody patents provide players with more opportunities toobtain the maximum pay out, the chances continue to be remote.

[0005] By providing a player with the first one or two cards of a pokerhand, the present invention dramatically increases the player's chanceof obtaining a maximum pay out. Although the maximum pay out will bereduced to reflect the selection process, the player will still feelsatisfied knowing that the maximum machine pay out was obtained. Whilecertain previous poker games allow a player to choose between hands withexposed cards, no previous video poker game allows a “player” to selectthe value and suit of one or more cards in a poker hand. For example,U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,915 to Kadlic provides four five card draw pokerhands, each with two exposed cards, for the player to choose from.However, the exposed cards are randomly generated and selected by themachine, not the player.

[0006] Other video poker games allow a player to select one or more“lucky” cards which, if they appear in the final poker hand, result in abonus pay out. However, the selected lucky card or cards do not becomepart of the hand when selected. In other words, the chosen lucky cardsmust be dealt into the final poker hand to have a positive result forthe player. The lucky card selection process has no affect on theresultant poker hand or pay out from a standard video poker pay table.

[0007] The need exists for a player to achieve a maximum pay out on amore consistent basis. The present invention provides the solution byallowing the player to select the value and suit of one or more cards ina poker hand. In effect, the player has a head start to achieving apowerful and valuable hand. Of course depending on the selected cards,smaller pay outs may be altered to account for the more consistent largepay outs. Further, some traditional predefined winning hands may beeliminated by the selection process described herein (e.g. any pair ofJacks, Queens, Kings and Aces).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machineplayer with increased opportunities to achieve a maximum machine payout.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a gamingmachine player more input with respect to the player's gaming outcome.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a dynamicpay table related to a player's card selection.

[0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a morerewarding gaming experience to increase a player's participation at agaming machine.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention operates under the basic protocol ofconventional video poker machines. Accordingly, with conventional videodraw poker a player first places a wager and is randomly dealt five faceup cards from a standard 52 card deck which are displayed on a videoscreen. The player's wager may normally be from 1 to 5 coins or more.Wagering maximum coins (e.g. 5 coins) allows players to earn superiorpay outs and to participate in progressive jackpots. After the wager ismade and the five face up cards are randomly dealt, the player electswhich cards to hold and discard. Thereafter, the discards are replacedwith new random cards from the standard deck. The player's final hand isthen compared to winning predefined hands and the player is paidaccording to a pre-established pay table. Those skilled in the artunderstand the internal process underlying the random dealing anddrawing of cards in an electronically implemented poker game. Therefore,a detailed description of the internal processes is not offered herein.

[0013] The pre-established paytable typically involves five differentcolumns designated by the number of coins played. A conventional fivecard draw pay table typically includes pay outs for all hands greaterthan a pair of Jacks. A conventional pay table is illustrated inTable 1. TABLE 1 NUMBER OF COINS BET POKERHAND 1 2 3 4 5 ROYAL FLUSH 250500 750 1000 4000 STRAIGHT FLUSH 50 100 150 200 250 FOUR ACES 80 160 240320 400 FOUR 2'S, 3'S OR 4'S 40 80 120 160 200 FOUR 5'S THRU KINGS 20 4060 80 100 FULL HOUSE 7 14 21 28 35 FLUSH 5 10 15 20 25 STRAIGHT 4 8 1216 20 THREE-OF-A-KIND 2 4 6 8 10 TWO PAIR 1 2 3 4 5 JACKS OR BETTER 1 23 4 5

[0014] The present invention includes multiple pay tables which are, notonly a function of the coins played, but also a function of the cardsselected by the player.

[0015] The present invention adds the step of the player selectinginitially one or more cards of his or her poker hand. The player mayselect any one or more cards from a standard 52 card deck to begin play.In the case of five card draw, once the one or more cards are selected,the remaining number of unselected cards are randomly dealt to completethe hand. Thereafter, the player selects which of the five cards to holdand discard. The discards are then replaced with new cards from thedeck. In an alternative embodiment, the player may not discard theselected card or cards. The player's final hand is then compared towinning predefined hands and the player is paid according to one of aplurality of pre-established pay tables.

[0016] Preferably the card selection process allows a player to selecteither one or two cards at his or her discretion. In the preferredselection process, the player may either select one or two cards andimmediately see a corresponding pay table displayed. Thereafter, priorto activating a full deal, the player may change the card selection orthe number of cards selected and immediately view a differentcorresponding pay table. Alternatively, a one card selection game and atwo card selection game are independent and one game is selectedinitially by the player. Again, prior to activating a full deal, theplayer is able to change the card or cards selected and viewcorresponding pay tables. The plurality of pay tables are preferably afunction of the one or more cards selected by the player. For example, aplayer selecting a King of spades and an Ace of spades (i.e. two cardselection) will be paid less for receiving a flush and/or a royal flushthan a player selecting two sevens since the chances of achieving thosehands are increased by the selection. In other words, the initialselection will dictate the odds and pay outs related to certainpredefined winning hands. The pre-established pay tables will also takeinto account whether the selected one or more cards may be discarded. Ifthe selected cards may not be discarded, clearly some hands are notachievable which must be reflected in the corresponding pay table. Forexample, assuming no discard of selected cards is allowed, a two cardselection of a pair of nines eliminates hands of a straight, flush,straight flush and royal flush. The corresponding pay table must beformulated to reflect and account for the impossibility of theaforementioned hands.

[0017] In a similar fashion, the present invention may be utilized withother poker games including variations of five card draw and stud games.Five and seven card stud are particularly suited to practice the instantinvention. Seven card stud involves a player selecting one or more cardsof a seven card hand. Thereafter, the remaining cards are dealt and thehand is compared to the predefined winning hands and the player is paidaccording to one of a multiple of dynamic pre-established pay tables.Five card stud is identical except only five cards are ultimately dealtand the associated pay tables are unique. In a similar manner, a drawpoker game may comprise more, or less, than the five cards typicallyutilized (i.e. four, six or seven card draw poker).

[0018] In practice, the number of pay tables for any one specific pokergame are limitless. Accordingly, five card draw pay tables based on aplayer selecting two cards may, by way of example, include multiple paytables based on the following: TABLE 2 PAY TABLE # SELECTED CARDS 1unsuited cards separated by more than five denominations (e.g. two ofhearts/nine of spades) 2 unsuited cards separated by five or lessdenominations (e.g. two of hearts/six of spades) 3 suited cardsseparated by more than five denominations (e.g. two of hearts/nine ofhearts) 4 suited cards separated by five or less denominations andneither ten or higher (e.g. two of hearts/six of hearts) 5 suited cardsseparated by five or less denominations and one card ten or higher (e.g.nine of hearts/Jack of hearts) 6 suited cards separated by five or lessdenominations and both ten or higher (e.g. ten of hearts/Ace of hearts)7 unsuited pair of cards (e.g. King of hearts/King of spades)

[0019] Pay table 1 will likely be set similar to a conventional videopoker pay table since the selected cards do not provide a player with aninherent advantage for achieving any winning poker hand. Pay table 2will likely reflect a reduced pay out corresponding to a straight sincetwo of the five cards necessary to achieve a straight have beenselected. Pay table 3 will likely reflect a reduced pay outcorresponding to a flush since two of the five cards necessary toachieve a flush have been selected. Pay table 3 may also reflect anincreased pay out for a flush in a suit other than the selected spades.Pay table 4 will likely reflect a reduced pay out corresponding to astraight flush since two of the five cards necessary to achieve astraight flush have been selected. Pay table 5 will likely reflect areduced pay out corresponding to a straight flush and a royal flushsince two of the five cards necessary to achieve a straight flush andone necessary to achieve a royal flush have been selected. Pay table 6will likely further reflect a reduced pay out corresponding to a royalflush since two of the five cards necessary to achieve a royal flushhave been selected. Pay table 7 will likely reflect a reduced pay outcorresponding to two pair, three of a kind, four of a kind and fullhouse since the selected cards render the four hands more likely. Whilea conventional five card draw table provides a pay out for any pair ofJacks or better, pay table 7 must be revised to eliminate any pay outcorresponding to a pair since the player has selected a pair of Kings tobegin the game.

[0020] It should be understood that the foregoing pay tables and basistherefore are illustrative and clearly not exhaustive. The number of paytables may vary significantly and may be based on many other cardselections besides those described above. Additionally, the pay tablesmay also reflect higher pay outs for final hands that are more difficultto achieve based on the card selection. Yet further, the pay tables mustaccount for an embodiment of the present invention wherein the selectedone or more cards may not be discarded. Ultimately however, the paytables and corresponding pay outs will be determined by a gaming machinemanufacturer pursuant to a gaming machine operator's desired pay outpercentage and the overall mathematical odds associated with aparticular poker game played according to the present invention.

[0021] As with conventional video poker the present invention includeswagers of 1 coin to 5 coins or more. Maximum coin wagers providesuperior pay outs and may also be tied to a progressive jackpot ifimplemented by a gaming machine operator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022]FIG. 1 is a front view of a conventional video poker machine usedto implement the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 2 is a view of a display screen of the present inventionprior to a player selecting one or more cards of a five card draw pokerhand;

[0024]FIG. 3 is a view of a display screen of the present inventionimmediately after a player has selected two cards of a five card drawpoker hand; and

[0025]FIG. 4 is a view of a display screen of the present inventionimmediately after a player has selected two cards of a five card drawpoker hand.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts arereferred to by like numerals throughout. FIG. 1 illustrates the front ofa traditional video poker machine 1, including a screen display 3,deal/draw button 5, hold/discard buttons 10, card reader 15, coin slot20, bet maximum coins button 25 and a bet one coin button 30. Inaddition to the external features illustrated in FIG. 1, the presentinvention requires a means to select one or more cards. Although atouchscreen is the preferred means of selection, other means, includingselection buttons, may be used. Conventional video poker machines alsohave internal components including at least a microprocessor, randomnumber generator and memory means.

[0027]FIG. 2 shows a video display screen 1 of the present invention.Depicted on the display screen 1 are five cards 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 dealtface down and a pay table 35. Cards 40, 45 include card suit indicia 70and card value indicia 75 as a means for a player to select his or herdesired card or cards. Preferably, the display screen 1 is a touchscreensuch that a player may simply press one of the card suit indicia 70 andone card value indicia 75 on one or both cards to complete the selectionprocess. Alternatively, machine buttons or a wireless mechanism mayprovide the card selection means. Further, the aforementioned means maybe used such that cards may be selected from a completely revealed 52card deck displayed on the screen in full or in suits. While theselection process may be altered in any number of ways, it does notlimit the scope of the invention as bounded by the claims herein.

[0028] The pay table 35 depicted in FIG. 2 is dynamic and pay outsappear only after the player has selected at least one card. Therefore,in FIG. 2 prior to the player selecting cards, the pay table 35 depictspredefined winning hands 80 but does not depict corresponding pay outs.The pay table 35 of FIG. 3 displays both winning hands 80 andcorresponding pay outs 85 (the letter x is used for illustrativepurposes only, in practice each x corresponds to a unique valueanalogous to Table 1) based on the selected card 90 and number of coinsplayed. Once the first card 90 has been selected, the player may opt toeither select a second card or press the deal button (or any other dealmeans as known in the art) to randomly reveal the value and suit of theremaining four cards. Assuming the player only elects one card andactivates the deal means, the player then elects which of the five cardsto hold and which cards to discard. Once the election is made, theplayer activates the deal means a second time and the discards arereplaced with new cards from the deck. The player's final hand is thencompared to predefined winning hands 80 to determine whether the playerhas won. If the player has won, the player is paid according to one of aplurality of pre-established pay tables 35.

[0029]FIG. 4 illustrates a screen where a player has opted to select twocards 90, 95. A corresponding pay table 35 having a second set ofcorresponding pay outs 100 (some of the unique values x likely beingdifferent than those in FIG. 3) then appears. In this fashion, theplayer may, prior to activating the full five card deal, repeatedlychange the card suit indicia 70, the card value indicia 75 and thenumber of cards selected (e.g. change from selecting one card toselecting two cards and vice versa). For each change made, a differentcorresponding pay table appears. Once the player activates the dealmeans the remaining three cards are randomly dealt and the player thenelects which of the five cards to hold and which to discard. Once theelection is made, the player activates the deal means a second time andthe discards are replaced with new cards from the deck. The player'sfinal hand is then compared to predefined winning hands 80 to determinewhether the player has won. If the player has won, the player is paidaccording to one of a plurality of pre-established pay tables.

[0030] As detailed above, an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention requires the player to pre-select either a game based onselecting only one card or a game based on selecting two cards.Thereafter, the one card selection and two card selection games proceedaccording to the method described herein.

[0031] Although the invention has been described in detail withreference to a preferred embodiment, additional variations andmodifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention asdescribed and defined in the following claims.

I claim:
 1. An electronically implemented method of playing a draw pokergame including: a a player making a wager; b. said player selecting oneor more cards from a deck of cards, by suit and value, of a draw pokerhand; c. dealing and displaying face up remaining cards of the drawpoker game to complete an initial poker hand; d. said player electing tohold or discard each card of the initial poker hand; e. dealing anddisplaying replacement cards from said deck of cards to replace saidplayer's elected discards resulting in a final poker hand; and f.comparing said final poker hand to predefined winning poker hands andpaying said player according to a pre-established pay table.
 2. Themethod of playing draw poker according to claim 1 wherein saidpre-established pay table is one of a plurality of pre-established paytables.
 3. The method of playing draw poker according to claim 2 whereinsaid plurality of pre-established pay tables have pay outs which are afunction of the one or more player selected cards.
 4. The method ofplaying draw poker according to claim 3 further including one of theplurality of pre-established pay tables being displayed once said playerselects one or more cards.
 5. The method of playing draw poker accordingto claim 1 wherein said selected one or more cards is displayed face upupon selection.
 6. The method of playing draw poker according to claim 1wherein said selection of one or more cards is by means of a touchscreendisplay.
 7. The method of playing draw poker according to claim 1wherein said selected one or more cards must be held at step d.
 8. Themethod of playing draw poker according to claim 1 wherein said drawpoker game is a five card version.
 9. The method of playing draw pokeraccording to claim 1 wherein at step b said selection of one or morecards may be modified by said player one or more times prior to step c.10. The method of playing a draw poker game according to claim 1 whereinthe electronic implementation of the poker game is facilitated by meansof a video poker machine including at least display means, memory means,selection means, wager accepting means, a microprocessor and a randomnumber generator.
 11. An electronically implemented method of playing astud poker game including: a a player making a wager; b. said playerselecting one or more cards from a deck of cards, by suit and value, ofa stud poker hand; c. dealing and displaying face up remaining cards ofthe stud poker game to complete a final stud poker hand; and d.comparing said final poker hand to predefined winning poker hands andpaying said player according to a pre-established pay table.
 12. Themethod of playing stud poker according to claim 11 wherein saidpre-established pay table is one of a plurality of pre-established paytables.
 13. The method of playing stud poker according to claim 12wherein said plurality of pre-established pay tables have pay outs whichare a function of the one or more player selected cards.
 14. The methodof playing stud poker according to claim 13 further including one of theplurality of pre-established pay tables being displayed once said playerselects one or more cards.
 15. The method of playing stud pokeraccording to claim 11 wherein said selected one or more cards isdisplayed face up upon selection.
 16. The method of playing stud pokeraccording to claim 11 wherein said selection of one or more cards is bymeans of a touchscreen display.
 17. The method of playing stud pokeraccording to claim 11 wherein said stud poker game is a five cardversion.
 18. The method of playing stud poker according to claim 11wherein said stud poker game is a seven card version.
 19. The method ofplaying stud poker according to claim 11 wherein at step b saidselection of one or more cards may be modified by said player one ormore times prior to step c.
 20. The method of playing a stud poker gameaccording to claim 11 wherein the electronic implementation of the pokergame is facilitated by means of a video poker machine including at leastdisplay means, memory means, selection means, wager accepting means, amicroprocessor and a random number generator.